The Undercover Parent Analysis

The 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution grants the right of privacy to all people in the country. The use of spyware on children and teens is blant attack on that amendment. Consequently, it has been a real controversial topic between parents and their kids ever since it was invented and used in the 1900’s. There have been many arguments and reasons that have been said for and against it. I for one am against its use. Among those who are for the use of spyware is an author named Harlan Coben, the author of The Undercover Parent. Throughout the article, he argues reasons that support his side. However, Coben’s arguments about the use of spyware because spyware restricts freedom, it’s an invasion of privacy and it doesn’t let children
For example, according to Ellen Goodman, author of Big Brother meets Big Mother and is also so happens to be against the use of spyware, claims, “A company inauspiciously named Bladerunner has begun selling a jacket with a GPS device sewn into the lining.” This invasion of privacy exposes the location of the user of the jacket. Your location is part of your privacy and it should not matter to anyone else unless you want to disclose it to them. A built in GPS into clothing will fully disclose your location without your permission. Another reason why spyware is an invasion of privacy is because even a simple question like “who are you talking to?” or “who are you texting?” or even “who was that?” is a very touchy subject to teens and kids. If these small questions make kids and teens uncomfortable, just imagine how uncomfortable it would be to be tracking, spying and watching them 24/7. In total, the use of spyware is a huge invasion of privacy, even though it is an essential right that is guaranteed to
It causes the reliance of children on their parents to be too high. It doesn’t let them fight their own fight or learn from their mistakes. Goodman also supports this by stating, “we may be protecting them right out of the ability to make their own decisions. Including their own mistakes.” This means that by using spyware, parents interfere too much into their child’s lives, making them too reliant and not independent enough to be alone. It also doesn’t let the child learn the lessons that they will need for their future adulthood. Goodman also says “meanwhile, we may be raising a generation with low expectations of public privacy, trained by Big Mother to accept Big Brother.” I interpret this to mean that when spyware is used, the one it is used on, becomes too reliant on the one using it on them. Also,after the child is grown up, they will have a difficult time with the internet because of the fact that spyware is no longer tethered to them, makes them question everything they do on the